Best understudy you've ever seen?- Page 3

[getatme]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 10:35pm

Been lucky enough to see a number of understudies over the years that have blown me away: Colton Ryan as Evan Hansen, Alysha Desloriuex as all three Schuyler Sisters, Lauren Zakrin as Natasha, Lauren Zakrin as Sonya (Off-Broadway).

But truly none of them has even come close to being as transcendent and incredible as Jay Armstrong Johnson as Claude in the Hair revival. Why he isn't a huge Broadway star at this point will always be a mystery to me. He's the real deal.

[starcatchers]

Posted: 1/16/18 at 10:56pm

getatme said: "Been lucky enough to see a number of understudies over the years that have blown me away: Colton Ryan as Evan Hansen, Alysha Desloriuex as all three Schuyler Sisters, Lauren Zakrin as Natasha, Lauren Zakrin as Sonya (Off-Broadway).

But truly none of them has even come close to being as transcendent and incredible as Jay Armstrong Johnson as Claude in the Hair revival. Why he isn't a huge Broadway star at this point will always be a mystery to me. He's the real deal."

THIS. I was there for his first full show and it was unreal. 

[wendy72]

Posted: 1/17/18 at 7:55am

I was just about to post the same thing! I saw Laura Shoop as Amalia and Alison Cimmet as Ilona - they were incredible!!!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/17/18 at 9:36am

Also, Rhett George as Gator in Memphis (he later played the role on tour).  Simply an amazing voice, and gave me chills and tears when he sang, Say a Prayer.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/17/18 at 11:21am

Another one I just thought of: Haven Burton as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde.  She was leaps and bounds better than any of the other Elle's I saw in that production (Laura Bell Bundy, Becky Gulsvig, Bailey Hanks, and Kate Rockwell). She was the only actress who seemed to understand that Elle wasn't an idiot, and didn't play it that way.

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 1/17/18 at 1:17pm

Definitely Elena Shaddow.

I saw her go on for Kelli O'Hara in Bridges of Madison County and I'm so thankful I got to experience her take on the character. Her vocals were exquisite, she had incredible chemistry with Steven Pasquale, her accent was spot on. She made me feel everything that was happening to her, a very emotionally raw performance. And "Almost Real" and "Always Better" were both so utterly heartbreaking I wish we had her recording of them. I will forever be a fan of hers thanks to that night.

[Christopher Lippolt]

Posted: 1/17/18 at 1:37pm

Ive been an active theater goer since the late 70"s when I was a young boy.  Ive seen many impressive understudies in my day.  I had the pleasure of experiencing the original Dreamgirls more than once.  Both times Sheryl Lee Ralph was out.  I was able to see her understudy, Phylicia Rashad, both times.  She was perfection.  No wonder she went on to have a great great career.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 1/17/18 at 1:59pm

Jessica Phillips in NEXT TO NORMAL. I saw her first performance Off-Broadway and she was incredible. Even though the "Costco" number was still in the show at this point.

 

[morosco]

Posted: 1/17/18 at 2:33pm

Christopher Lippolt said: "Ive been an active theater goer since the late 70"s when I was a young boy. Ive seen many impressive understudies in my day. I had the pleasure of experiencing the original Dreamgirls more than once. Both times Sheryl Lee Ralph was out. I was able to see her understudy, Phylicia Rashad, both times. She was perfection. No wonder she went on to have a great great career."

I think I remember reading that when Sheryl Lee Ralph was leaving DREAMGIRLS, Phylicia Rashad was disappointed that she wasn't moved up to the role of Deena permanently so she left the show.  Good move in the long run. 

[camillesaur]

Posted: 1/19/18 at 11:30am

Molly Jobe as both Dawn and Jenna in Waitress. She’s incredible!

[jkstheatrescene]

Posted: 1/19/18 at 11:34am

But truly none of them has even come close to being as transcendent and incredible as Jay Armstrong Johnson as Claude in the Hair revival. Why he isn't a huge Broadway star at this point will always be a mystery to me. He's the real deal."

THIS. I was there for his first full show and it was unreal."

I WAS THERE, TOO!  He is amazing!!!

[rfksansiro]

Posted: 1/19/18 at 11:38am

camillesaur said: "Molly Jobe as both Dawn and Jenna in Waitress. She’s incredible!"

We saw Molly as Jenna last weekend and she was great.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 1/19/18 at 12:29pm

I saw Jenna Leigh Green go on as Elphaba in Toronto just after opening the First National Tour of "Wicked", and she was incredible! Towards the end she slid a little "Libby" (from Sabrina) into her character.

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 1/19/18 at 12:44pm

Tom Galantich on for John Lithgow in DRS

Amazing

[Musicalj367]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 7:32pm

Stephanie Torns as Jenna in Waitress

Tee Boyich as Janis in Mean Girls

Darlesia Cearcy as Erzulie (Before she took over) in Once on This Island

Christian Dante White as Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly!

Michael Lee Brown as Evan in Dear Evan Hansen

Mia Gentile as Lauren in Kinky Boots

Sydnee Winters as Eliza Hamilton in Hamilton

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 8:55pm

Bibi Osterwald as DOLLY (She played the role for a few weeks between Betty Grable and Pearl Bailey). I also saw her when she went on for Pearl.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 9:01pm

I want to add Christian Dante White as Cornelius Hackl to my list.

Edred Utomi as Alexander Hamilton in the Hamilton tour.  He's definitely my favorite Hamilton out of the 4 I've seen.

[jbp1232]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 9:15pm

Nicole Van Giesen as Big Alison in Fun Home. She was truly phenomenal.

[beatofthedrum27]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 9:49pm

Ryan Vasquez- Aaron Burr

Andrew Chappelle- Lafayette/Jefferson

Sydney James Harcourt- Aaron Burr

Stephanie Torns- Jenna and Dawn

Alysha Deslorieux- Angelica Schuyler

Elizabeth Judd- Eliza Hamilton

Olivia Puckett- Alana Beck and Zoe Murphy

Telly Leung- Angel Dumott Schunard

EDIT: JUST SAW GREGORY TRECO AS BURR AT THE FAN PERFORMANCE ON WEDNESDAY AND OOOOOOO MAHHHHHH GOSSHHHHHH!!! HE IS AMAZING!!!!!!!

Updated On: 11/4/18 at 09:49 PM

[BroadwayNoob]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 10:11pm

Michael Lee Brown is really damn good. I saw him this past Friday as Evan after he had to step in to the role a quarter of the way through the show. It must have been super stressful and he was playing the character as if nothing happened

[Lindsay Paige Galperson]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 10:33pm

I've seen Ryan Vaquez as both Burr and Hamilton and both were phenomenal. 

I loved seeing Jenn Collela as Elizabeth in If/Then.

But my #1 understudy performance has to be Miss Loren Lott as Ti Moune because I'd been a fan of her work since American Idol and had no idea she was even going on when I saw the show and it was such a special surprise.

Lauren Zarkin was phenomenal as Natasha I agree.

This technically isn't an understudy but during the Hedwig Revival tour, Lena Hall did one performance a week as Hedwig and it was unbelievable. 

I was lucky enough to see Ben Ross go on for Evan Hansen a few weeks ago and all I can say is that the tour is in very good hands.

[VonTrappFamilySinger]

Posted: 8/8/18 at 11:22pm

Shoba Narayan as Natasha from Great Comet. Absolutely blew me away. 

[sewhite2]

Posted: 8/9/18 at 12:07am

Elizabeth Judd as Eliza in Hamilton and Jevon mcferrin in Hamilton

Also tee boyich as Janis in mean girls

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 8/9/18 at 12:26am

Ali Ewoldt as Tuptim in The King and I
Jeremy Morse as Ogie in Waitress
Jason Forbach as Enjolras, Devin Ilaw as Marius, and Briana Carlson-Goodman as Éponine in Les Misérables
So many others. These are only some that popped into my head immediately. Understudies are so great in general.

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 8/9/18 at 12:36am

Allison Bailey is such a phenomenal Glinda; very unique take but it never feels too forced or subversive. A top example of making a character your own while still respecting the material.

I really like Kerstin Anderson as Eliza. She loses some of Ambrose’s nuanced maturity but gains back the youthfulness of the role. Her singing is top rate!

Loren Lott as Ti Moune is my personal favorite, hands down. I truly enjoyed everything she did, and it’d be a huge shame if she doesn’t lead the tour company.